46 Mo. 386 | Mo. | 1870
delivered the opinion of the court.
There is but one question presented by this record for our consideration, and that is the action of the Circuit Court in dismiss
The nineteenth section makes it the duty of the officers named to settle with the County Court at ea-ch stated term thereof, and pay the balance which may be due the county into the treasury. The twentieth, twenty-first, and twenty-second sections provide that if the person chargeable shall refuse to render true accounts or to settle, the court shall proceed to adjust the accounts of such delinquent according to the best information they can obtain, in which case the court may refuse to allow any commissions to the officer in default, and may, moreover, without delay, order him to pay into the county treasury the balance found due; and if he
Section 28 declares that unless the delinquent' appear on the first day of the next succeeding term, and show good cause for setting aside such settlement, the court shill enter up a judgment for the' amount duo, with thirty per cent, per annum until paid, and issue execution therefor. But the twenty-fourth section further provides that if good cause be shown for setting aside the settlement, the court may re-examine the accounts, settle and adjust the same according to law, and, in their discretion, remit the penalties imposed.
As the proceedings are in the first instance ex parte, it was not intended to deprive the delinquent of the privilege of appearing and presenting his claim to relief. For that purpose the law requires him to appear on the first day of the next succeeding term, and unless he does so, and shows good cause for setting aside the settlement, then judgment goes against him, with an additional penalty. If he complies with the law and makes his appearance, the accounts may be re-examined and the penalties remitted. Owens was duly notified, and paid no attention to the order of the court or the requirements of the law. Two months elapsed before he supposed that his case was worth attending to. The law specially fixes the period at which he was bound to appear to protect his rights, and we have no power to extend the time. If an appeal would lie at all in the case, in order to avail himself of it, it was incumbent on him to appear on the first day, as the law directs, and take the proper steps in that behalf. Parties can not wholly disregard the law, and then ask for relief at their own pleasure.
We are unable to distinguish this case from the principle that obtains in appeals from justices’ courts on judgments by default. When a judgment is rendered before a justice of the peace by default, the defendant must appear before the justice within ten days and move to have the same set aside. If he does not so appear he forfeits his right of appeal; and if he appeals, his
The other judges concurring, the judgment will be affirmed.